Document B8NrOD6jEqxXjdNdxXr0aB8mw

To: leila_getto@ios.doi.gov[leila_getto@ios.doi.gov] From: Jack Gerard, API Sent: 2017-10-25T09:58:32-04:00 Importance: Normal Subject: Arctic Access Essential for Energy Security Received: 2017-10-25T09:58:35-04:00 Click to view this email in a browser October 25, 2017 Dear Leila, Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge (ANWR) is in the spotlight again, after actions from the T rump administration and Congress laying the groundwork to allow responsible energy exploration in the promising area. Misconceptions seem to arise any time ANWR comes up, but the facts demonstrate that safe energy exploration in the vital region can generate major economic growth and greatly enhance U.S. energy security without harming the environment. That's certainly the conclusion of the Arctic Inupiat, an organization with members from across the Arctic Slope region - including members from Kaktovik located inside ANWR. The group recently voted unanimously to approve a resolution supporting oil and gas development in a section of ANWR. Writing in the Alaska Dispatch News, Kaktovik Inupiat Corp. President Matthew Rexford described the resolution as "an unprecedented show of unity from the community leaders of the North Slope, those who live in and around the coastal plain of the refuge, and should send a very clear message to America - we support the development of a portion of the coastal plain of ANWR." Citing "decades of experience working with the oil and gas industry to implement stringent regulations to protect our lands," Rexford said that "the industry has consistently lived up to our standards" and safe development in nearby Prudhoe Bay "has demonstrated for four decades that resource development and ecological preservation can and do coexist in the Arctic." For perspective, consider that ANWR is about the size of South Carolina, and the area Congress targeted for exploration could be developed from tracts collectively equaling about 2,000 acres - roughly the size of Dulles Airport. Oil resources are already being developed safely right next door to ANWR at Point Thomson. What about the argument that, as the world's leading producer and refiner of natural gas and oil, the United States doesn't need to explore for more energy? Simply put, if that perspective had determined energy policy a decade ago, the United States would not now be the world's leading producer, and the energy security we now enjoy would be a distant goal. How much energy security is on the line in Alaska? Well, just a small section of ANWR is estimated to hold between 4.3 billion and 11.8 billion barrels of oil. At the high end -- more than 10 times the amount of oil produced in 2016 in Texas - the nation's leading producing state. The potential of adding a Texas-sized increase to U.S. energy supply makes safe exploration in ANWR a sensible, vital component of future energy security. Decades of experience operating in Arctic environments demonstrate the oil and natural gas industry has the technology and expertise to safely develop resources there. Alaskans support energy development in their state, and future U.S. energy security demands it. Sincerely, Jack N. Gerard President & CEO API Natural Gas and Grid Reliability Market forces are driving the increased use of natural gas in power generation, and natural gas-fueled generation is providing reliability and resiliency to the electric grid while lowering costs for consumers and playing the lead role in driving down U.S. carbon dioxide emissions from electricity generation. Learn more about the benefits of natural gas in power generation. Follow our Blog to stay up-to-date To stay up-to-date on the latest energy-related news, there is no better place to check than the Energy Tomorrow Blog. About API: API is the only national trade association representing all facets of the oil and natural gas industry, which supports 10.3 million U.S. jobs and nearly 8 percent of the U.S. economy. API's more than 625 members include large integrated companies, as well as exploration and production, refining, marketing, pipeline, and marine businesses, and service and supply firms. They provide most of the nation's energy and are backed by a growing grassroots movement of more than 40 million Americans. To learn more about API and the value of oil and natural gas, please visit API.org. Click to view this email in a browser If you no longer wish to receive these emails, please reply to this message with "Unsubscribe" in the subject line or simply click on the following link: Unsubscribe Jack Gerard, API 1220 L Street, NW Washington, DC 20005 US